Sequential timing device



Feb. 28, 1967 F'Zra. 1.-

E' J. HUNTER SEQUENTIAL TIMING DEVICE Filed Dec. 4, 1964 JJIIHIIHIHHI II III III III] II I NVENTOR. HUNTER f V \l--. Arrow/5 I United States Patent Ofifice Filed Dec. 4, 1964, Ser. No. 416,054) 13 Ciairns. (Cl. 74-352) This invention relates to an improved sequential timing device for controlling the duration of a plurality of successive operations.

Sequential timing devices of this kind find application, for instance, in water sprinkling systems which irrigate sections of land in succession for variable lengths of time. Also, sequential timing devices of this type may be used in automatic laundry equipment where a plurality of sequential operations of variable duration (washing, rinsing, spinning, drying, etc.) has to be programmed.

An object of the invention is to provide a sequential timing device of improved structure which may be set to a plurality of time values for predetermining the duration of each of a plurality of sequential operations.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sequential timing device of improved structure wherein the adjustment of the time values may be carried out independently of each other.

A further object of the invention is to provide a se-, quential timing device including improved means whereby the device may be manually set to any desired control position.

The details of the invention, as well as additional objects and advantages, will be clearly understood with reference to a preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings employing similar reference numerals to identify the same elements in each of the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the dial plate of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional top plan view of the same embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the same embodiment; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional top plan view of the same embodiment similar to FIG. 2 with some parts in an alternative position.

Briefly, the timing device of the invention is a mechanism for intermittently rotating and arresting the shaft of a multiple position control unit, such as a rotary hydraulic selector valve or a multiple contact electric stepping switch. The device comprises an indexing motor associated with an indexing mechanism to rotate the shaft successively from one position to the next adjacent position, a plurality of adjustable stationary timing units arranged in substantially concentric circular arrays around the shaft and each having a stopping mechanism against which an arm, radially extending from the shaft and carried thereby, is adapted to abut, thus interrupting the rotation of the shaft for lengths of time pre-selected by the adjustable timing units and a timing motor associated with a timing mechanism adapted to move the shaft axially and thus slide the radial arm out of engagement successively with each stopping mechanism. The invention pertains in particular to the structure and operation of the stopping and timing mechanisms.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the timing device comprises a front dial plate 1 and a rear mounting plate 2 held in spaced parallel relation by means of a plurality of spacer posts 3 (only two shown).

Secured to the timing device or to any desired mounting fixture is a housing 4 containing a multiple position control unit such as a rotary hydraulic selector valve of known construction (not shown). A plurality of conrespectively. Shaft 6 is 3,366,114 Patented Feb. 28, 1967 duits 5, each associated with an output port (not shown) of the selector valve, extends from the apertured housing 4 and is connected to a multiple-conduit hydraulic conductor (not shown) for transmitting pressure signals from the selector valve. It is to be understood that instead of a hydraulic selector valve, the housing 4 may enclose a multiple-contact electric stepping switch, in which case the hydraulic conduits 5 are replaced by electric conductors (each connected to a stator contact of the stepping switch) and the multiple-conduit hydraulic conduc tor is replaced by a multiple-conduit electric conductor.

The multiple position conrtol unit comprises a shaft 6 that extends through plates 2 and 1 and journals in bushings '7 and 8 press-fitted or suitably mounted by other means in aligned circular apertures of plates 2 and 1, also adapted to be displaced axially to a limited extent without affecting its control of the selector valve in housing 4. A hub 9 provided with a circular flange 16 is keyed to shaft 6 between plates 1 and 2 by means of a set screw 11. Between flange 10 and an apertured pressure plate 12 there is disposed the flange portion 13 of an indexing gear 14. Pressure plate 12 is secured to hub 9 by means of a plurality of threaded means 15, the shank portion of each carrying a Bellevilletype spring washer 16. Securing means 15 and washer 16 provide a frictional engagement between flange 10 and pressure plate 12 on one hand and flange 13 of gear 14 on the other hand. Threaded means 15 are tightened to such an extent as to allow for a controlled slippage of flange 13 with respect to flange 1t) and pressure plate 12, as will be better understood as the description progresses. Between pressure plate 12 and plate 2 there is disposed a coil spring 17 which, by imparting pressure to the back of pressure plate 12, continuously urges indexing gear 14 and shaft 6 to the left as viewed in FIG. 2. Rigidly secured to hub 9 and rotatably carried thereby is a radially extending elongated arm 18, the function of which will be described later.

Mounted on plate 2 is an adapted to drive pinion relationship with gear 14.

A timing gear 21, having a hollow, internally threaded hub portion 22, is threadingly engaged by the externally threaded bushing 7 and is adapted to rotate freely with respect to shaft 6. Concentrically arranged with hub 22 electric indexing motor 19 gear 20 which is in meshing is a coil spring 23, the internal end of which is secured to hub 22 by means of fastening screw 24, while its external end is secured to plate 2 by means of a post 25 (FIG. 3). Thus, by this arrangement of elements spring 23 urges gear 21 to rotate toward plate 2. Plate 2 is punched to provide an offstanding tab 26 which tune-- tions as an abutment for pin 27 secured to gear 21 and projecting from the planar surface thereof. Mounted on plate 2 is an electric timing motor 28 which, when actuated, drives timing gear 21 by means of a pinion 29.

A cam wheel 30 having a plurality of peripheral cam lobes 31 and a projecting lug 32 is keyed to shaft 6 by means of a set screw 33 passing through hub 34 of cam wheel 30. One end face of hub 34 is in continuous abutting relationship with the opposed end face of hub 22 of timing gear 21.

Associated with indexing motor 19 and timing motor 28 are micro-switches 35 and 36 which, as shown in FIG. 3, may be mounted on plate 2. Switch 35 is electrically connected to motor 19 by cord 37 while switch 36 is similarly connected to motor 28 by cord 38. The switches are arranged in such a manner that actuating pin 39 of switch 36 is operable by each of the lobes 31 while actuating pin 40 of switch 35 is operable only by lug 32 of cam wheel 30.

Referring once again to FIG. I, mounted on plate 1 in; circular arrays about shaft 6 is a plurality (23, for example) of timing units 41, each associated, as it will become apparent later, with one control position of the multiple position control unit.

Since all of the timing units 41 are constructed in the same manner, only one will be described, and for reasons of clarity one is shown in cross-section in FIG. 2. An internally threaded bushing 42 is fastened to plate 1 by upsetting its collar portion. A longitudinally apertured screw 43, to which there is rigidly secured a centrally perforated adjusting cap 44, is threaded into bushing 42. A dog point Allen set screw 45 threaded into the hollow screw 43 carries in axial alignment therewith a timing pin 46. By rotating cap 44 and thus turning screw 43 in bushing 42, the pin 46 may be advanced or retracted to any desired extent within the limit of its axial movement. In addition, cap 44 is provided with scale markings 48 (e.g. from to 60) cooperating with a pointer 47 carried by dial plate 1 (FIG. 1). The timing units 41 are arranged in such a manner that the timing pin 46, when in an advanced (other than 0) position, is adapted to arrest arm 18 in its circular motion.

Rigidly secured (e.g. by means of press-fitting) to the end of shaft 6 beyond plate 1 is a manually operable knob 49 having. an integral pointer 50. Etched on face plate 1 in a circular array about knob 49 is indicia 51, each associated with a corresponding timing unit 41. On the upper portion of plate 1 there may be provided a pair of large circular apertures 52 and 53 for receiving conventional clock mechanism (not shown) adapted to generate an electric signal at any pre-selected moment of the day.

Operation 7 Having set forth the structural features of the timing device comprising the invention, one cycle of operation will now be described.

Before initiating a cycle of operation, pointer 50 of knob 49 rests in the off position and lug 32 of cam wheel 30 engages actuating pin 40 of switch 35. In this position indexing motor 19 is permanently de-energizcd.

In order to start the timing operation of the device, switch 35 is closed, for example, by an electric signal from a conventional time clock mechanism. Such a clock mechanism may be mounted in apertures 52 and 53 of dial plate 1. Closing of switch 53 energizes indexing motor 19 which, through pinion 20 rotates indexing gear 14 and shaft 6 therewith. The actuating signal from the conventinal time clock to switch 35 may be momentary only, since a few degrees of rotation of shaft 6 will cause lug 32 of cam wheel 30 to slide off actuating pin 40 whereby the indexing motor 19 will stay energized throughout the entire timing cycle. Instead of a signal from a timing clock, the indexing motor 19 may also be energized by manually turning knob 49 a few degrees clockwise. This will be sufficient for lug 32 to slide off actuating pin 40, thus closing switch 35 and energizing indexing motor 19.

Indexing motor 19 now drives pinion 20, gear 14, hub 9 and shaft 6. The speed of indexing motor 19 may be such that shaft 6 is rotated thereby at 6 per second. It will be understood that this speed is given only by way of example and that other indexing motors with widely different speeds may be used. Hub 9 will be arrested in its rotary motion as the circularly moving arm 18 carried by hub 9 abuts against timing pin 46 of the first timing unit 41 shown in section in FIG. 2. The moment this abutting engagement between the axially extending face portion of arm 18 and that of pin 46 takes place, shaft 6 simultaneously sets the multiple position control unit in housing 4 into its first position. Thus, signals from the control unit will start the first one of a series of successive operations, such as the irrigation of a first section 'of land or lawn. Further, as the timing arm abuts against timing pin 46 of the first timing unit 41, pointer 50 of knob 49 will be directed to scale number on dial plate 1.

When timing pin 46 and timing arm 18 arrive in an abutting relationship, further circular movement of arm 18 and rotation of hub 9, as Well as shaft 6, is temporarily interrupted. Indexing motor 19 continues to drive indexing gear 14 which now turns relative to pressure plate 12 and flange 10 due to the allowance of slippage therebetween referred to hereinbefore.

Cam wheel 30 is keyed to shaft 6 in such an angular relation therewith that as soon as arm 18 abuts against pin 46, one of cam lobes 31 depresses actuating pin 39 of switch 36 thereby energizing timing motor 28. Timing motor 28 now starts driving pinion 29 which, in turn, rotates timing gear 21 against the force of spiral spring 23. The revolving time gear 21, due to its threaded engagement with bushing 7, moves axially away from plate 2. Simultaneously, hub portion 22 of gear 21 pushes hub 34 and shaft 6 keyed thereto to the right in an axial direction overcoming the force of spring 17 The axial motion of shaft 6 also causes hub 9 and indexing gear 14- to shift to the right. It is pointed out that both pinions 20 and 29neither of which participates in the aforesaid axial displacement-are of sufficient length for gears 14 and 21 to stay in meshing relationship therewith at all times during their axial displacement.

The axial shift of hub 9 will cause arm 18, still in abutting relation with pin 46, to slide axially thereto and towards the end thereof. The length of time for arm 18 to clear the end of pin 46 will depend-besides the speed of the axial travel of timing gear 21 and the other elements connected theretoon how far pin 46 had been previously advanced by adjusting cap 44. The r.p.m. of timing motor 23 and the dimensions of pinion 29 and gear 21 may be selected in such a manner that timing arm 18 will be advanced at the rate of, for example, or .002 inch per minute. Thus, if it is desired that shaft 6 stay in its first control position for 2-0 minutes, the pointer 47 of the first timing unit 41 is set at the mark 20 of scale 48. With this setting, pin 46 protrudes .040 inch, necessitating 20 minutes of travel of arm 18 until it clears pin 46. Fine adjustment of pins 46 may be carried out before the installation of the device or during periodic checks by turning the screw 45 by means of a screwdriver inserted through the perforated cap 44- to set the timing period to correspond to the dial reading.

The instant the arm 18 clears pin 46 (see PIG. 4), the abutting relationship between the two is discontinued and hub 9 is once again free to rotate with the continuously rotating indexing gear 14. This signifies the end of the first timed period, because as shaft 6 resumes its rotation, it switches the multiple position control unit from its first position to the next one.

As arm 18 is released by pin 46 and shaft 6 starts rotating again, cam lobe 31 of cam wheel 30 moves away from actuating pin 39 of switch 36, thereby de-energizing timing motor 28. The clutch (not shown) in the timing motor 28 now becomes disengaged allowing free rotation of pinion 29 and timing gear 21. With the timing motor 28 disconnected, tensioned spiral spring 23 rotates timing gear.21 in an opposite direction and causes the same to move axially back towards plate 2. Gear 21 will be stopped in its backward movement by the engagement of pin 27 on gear 21 with offstanding tab 26 on plate 2.

The backward axial movement of timing gear 21 will be closely followed by the abutting hub portion 34 of cam wheel 30, as the latter is urged to the left by compressed coil spring 17. It is readily apparent from FIG. 2 that as cam wheel 30 moves axially to the left, shaft 6, hub 9 and indexing gear 14 will move in the same direction therewith. Also, timing arm 18, which is rigidly secured to hub 9, will move to the left and as shaft 6 is rotated by indexing motor 19, it will be once again ready to abut the timing pin 46 of the next timing unit '41. When this occurs, shaft 6 will again be held stationary, now in its second control position. The length of time shaft 6 will stay in its second control position is determined "by the position of timing pin 46 of the second timing unit 41.

From the foregoing it will now be understood that after one full revolution of shaft 6 all control positions of the multiple position control unit have been actuated, each for a length of time as pre-set by the corresponding timing unit 41.

It will be further understood that by setting the cap 44 of any desired timing unit to zero, its timing pin 46 will be sufiiciently retracted as to let timing arm 18 swing by without arresting the same, thus skipping that corresponding timing unit and the control position associated therewith.

When shaft 6 resumes its rotation after the last timing period, cam wheel 30 will have just about completed one f l revolution. Lug 32. on cam Wheel 39 returns to its pre-cycle position, depresses actuating pin 40 of switch mus tie-energizing indexing motor 1-9 and terminating one full cycle of operation. Pin 40 will stay depressed and the entire unit de-energized until a new cycle is initiated either by a signal from a conventional clock mechanism or by manually moving clockwise knob 49 from its off position, as described in detail hereinbefore.

It is to be noted that FIGS. 1 and 2 depict the moment When arm 18 just engages timing pin 46 of the 7th control position.

It is apparent from the preceding description that the rotary motion of shaft 6 is interrupted by each timing unit 41 for a duration determined by the setting of each cap 44. Stated in different terms, during one cycle of operation the indexing motor 19 intermittently rotates shaft 6 one full revolution. The selector valve (or stepping switch) is stationary in each control position for a duration preset by cap 44 of timing units 41, each associated With one control position of the multiple position control :unit (selector valve or stepping switch).

The operation of the device, as described hereinabove, is entirely automatic through a Whole cycle. It may be, however, a desideratum to manually set shaft 6 by knob 49 to any desired control position 'by omitting one or more timing units from the sequence. To carry out such a manual setting of shaft 6 it is necessary merely to push knob 49 inward toward plate 1 thus axially displacing shaft 6 and also shifting timing arm 18 to the right clear of pins 46. Thus by maintaining knob 49 in a depressed position it is now possible to rotate the same clockwise to any desired position without arm 18 abutting against any of timing pins 46.

Although only one embodiment of the invention has been depicted and described, it will be apparent that this embodiment is illustrative in nature and that a number of modifications in the apparatus and variations in its end use may be effected without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A device for sequentially timing a multiple position control unit having a shaft member adapted to set said unit to any one of a plurality of positions and adapted to maintain said shaft member therein for ,pre-selected lengths of time comprising:

(A) means including an indexing motor for rotating said shaft member,

(B) abutting means secured to said shaft member and carried thereby, said abutting means including an axially extending face portion,

(C) a plurality of stationary means each including an axially extending face portion positioned in the path of circular travel of said abutting means for entirely stopping the rotation of said shaft member by engag-ement of said face portion of said abutting means with said face portion of said stationary means, said stationary means being axially adjustable to project into said path in a variable extent for determining said pre-selected lengths of time,

(D) timing means including a timing motor for displacing said shaft member solely in an axial direction after said interruption has occurred to slide said abutting means out of engagement with said stationary means in a direction normal to said path of circular travel, and

(E) means for returning said shaft member to its axial position assumed prior to its displacement, said lastnamed means operable after the disengagement of said abutting means with said stationary means and after the resumption of the rotation of said shaft member.

2. A timing device as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for rotating the shaft member includes an indexing gear assembly secured to said shaft and driven by said indexing motor.

3. A timing device according to claim 2, wherein said gear assembly comprises:

(A) a hub member keyed to said shaft,

(B) an indexing gear surrounding said shaft, and

(C) pressure means for frictionally securing said indexing gear to said hub member.

4. A timing device as defined in claim 3, wherein said pressure means comprises:

(A) a pressure plate,

(B) threaded means securing member, and

(C) a Belleville-type washer associated with each of said threaded means for resiliently urging said pressure plate against said indexing gear.

5. A timing device as defined in claim 3, wherein said abutting means comprises an elongated arm rigidly secured to said hub member and radially extending therefrom.

6. A timing device as defined in claim 1, wherein said stationary means comprises at least one timing unit including a timing pin adapted to be manually advanced substantially perpendicularly into said path of circular travel to a desired extent for varying at will the length of time necessary for said abutting means to slide out of engagement with said timing pin.

7. A timing device as defined in claim 1, wherein said stationary means comprises a plurality of timing units arranged circularly about said shaft, each said timing unit having a timing pin adapted to be manually advanced substantially perpendicularly into said path of circular travel to a desired extent for varying at will the length of time necessary for said abutting means to slide out of engagement with said timing pin.

8. A timing device according to claim 1, wherein said timing means comprises:

(A) a timing gear surrounding said shaft and adapted to be revolubly driven by said timing motor with respect to said shaft,

(B) means for causing said timing gear to move axially when driven by said timing motor,

(C) switching means for energizing said timing motor,

(D) switch actuating means carried by said shaft member and adapted to actuate said switching means as said interruption of the rotation of said shaft member occurs,

(E) means keyed to said shaft member and adapted to be shifted by said timing gear during its axial motion for casuing said shaft member to be axially displaced, and

(F) means for returning said timing gear to its axial position assumed prior to its axial motion, said lastnamed means operable after said shaft member resumes its rotation.

9. A timing device according to claim 8, wherein said said plate to said hub means for causing said timing gear to move axially when driven by said timing motor comprises:

(A) an externally threaded bushing member surrounding said shaft and held stationary with respect to the rotary and axial motions thereof, and

(B) an internally threaded hub member integral with said timing gear, and threadedly engaged by said bushing member.

10. A timing device according to claim 8, wherein said means for returning said timing gear comprises a spiral spring surrounding said shaft member and opposing the rotation of said timing gear when driven by said timing motor.

11. A timing device according to claim 8, wherein said switch actuating means comprises a cam wheel keyed to said shaft member and provided with protruding peripheral lobes equaling the number of said stationary means, each of said lobes adapted to actuate said switching means 'when said engagement between said abutting means and said stationary means occurs.

12. A timing device according to claim 1, wherein said means for returning said shaft member to its axial position assumed prior to its displacement comprises a coil spring surrounding said shaft member and imparting an opposing force thereto during said displacement.-

13. A timing device according to claim 1 including manual means to axially displace said shaft member and rotate the same in its axially displaced condition to any one of said positions.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,548,007 7/1925 J-oslin 7484 1,897,943 2/1933 Ball et al. 2-OO-27 2,164,309 7/1939 Collins l92-139 2,577,172 12/1951 Woestemeyer 200--37 MILTON KAUFMAN, Primary Examiner. FRED C. MATTERN, Examiner. D. H. THIEL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE FOR SEQUENTIALLY TIMING A MULTIPLE POSITION CONTROL UNIT HAVING A SHAFT MEMBER ADAPTED TO SET SAID UNIT TO ANY ONE OF A PLURALITY OF POSITIONS AND ADAPTED TO MAINTAIN SAID SHAFT MEMBER THEREIN FOR PRE-SELECTED LENGTHS OF TIME COMPRISING: (A) MEANS INCLUDING AN INDEXING MOTOR FOR ROTATING SAID SHAFT MEMBER, (B) ABUTTING MEANS SECURED TO SAID SHAFT MEMBER AND CARRIED THEREBY, SAID ABUTTING MEANS INCLUDING AN AXIALLY EXTENDING FACE PORTION, (C) A PLURALITY OF STATIONARY MEANS EACH INCLUDING AN AXIALLY EXTENDING FACE PORTION POSITIONED IN THE PATH OF CIRCULAR TRAVEL OF SAID ABUTTING MEANS FOR ENTIRELY STOPPING THE ROTATION OF SAID SHAFT MEMBER BY ENGAGEMENT OF SAID FACE PORTION OF SAID ABUTTING MEANS WITH SAID FACE PORTION OF SAID STATIONARY MEANS, SAID STATIONARY MEANS BEING AXIALLY ADJUSTABLE TO PROJECT INTO SAID PATH IN A VARIABLE EXTENT FOR DETERMINING SAID PRE-SELECTED LENGTHS OF TIME, (D) TIMING MEANS INCLUDING A TIMING MOTOR FOR DISPLACING SAID SHAFT MEMBER SOLELY IN AN AXIAL DIRECTION AFTER SAID INTERRUPTION HAS OCCURRED TO SLIDE SAID ABUTTING MEANS OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID STATIONARY MEANS IN A DIRECTION NORMAL TO SAID PATH OF CIRCULAR TRAVEL, AND (E) MEANS FOR RETURNING SAID SHAFT MEMBER TO ITS AXIAL POSITION ASSUMED PRIOR TO ITS DISPLACEMENT, SAID LASTNAMED MEANS OPERABLE AFTER THE DISENGAGEMENT OF SAID ABUTTING MEANS WITH SAID STATIONARY MEANS AND AFTER THE RESUMPTION OF THE ROTATION OF SAID SHAFT MEMBER. 